Hellllooooo there ladies and gentleman and everyone in between. Been some time, if I do say so myself. There were couple blogs that I had been meaning to write for quite a while, but life and all of its wonders got in the way. Also ran into some posting permissions trouble with IGN, but as far as I can tell, it's been completely and utterly resolved. Shout out to the IGN folks for assisting me in that matter. Regardless, I am back again with, you guessed it, a music centric blog entry posted on a gaming-centric website. My thought processes are, in fact, questionable!

2014 has come, late happy new year to all of you out there. I had a great 2013, though toward the end ran into some odd heart occurrences. I've moved forward and am happy to say that things are consistently improving, getting better and stronger all the time. Lot's of great stuff in the future and I've never been better. That's not why I'm here though, I wanna discuss some of the upcoming highlights in the Alternative music scene and what I think it's going to look like this year.

The Rundown

Let's review. This past summer, we saw pop music take a turn for the funky. We saw Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake flirt with disco and even pop rock, while Daft Punk and Robin Thicke clung to retro-futurism with Disco, Pop, and Electronic-inflected albums. No doubt, we'll see some different things this summer, but what? More disco? It's a definite possibility, as it's received quite the revival over the past year, though it's not so hot at the moment. Honestly, we're in a weird place musically right now. You've got tracks that haven't left the top 100 chart in months...*cough* COUNTING STARS *cough*, you've got traditional, instrument driven pop tracks like "Happy" by Pharrell and "The Man" by Aloe Blacc, you have the synthpop-infused "Team" by Lorde and "Pompeii" by Bastille, and then you have oddball tracks like "Drunk In Love" and "Timber" that have been huge for a while but don't really fit under the pop umbrella we have right now. What's next, you might ask? Hard to say, but my guess is that Alternative music is going to be huge.

I'm talking about everything from Indie Rock/Pop, Alternative Rock, Alternative Pop, Synthpop, Math Rock, and even some College Rock. Every subgenre falling under the blanket genre term of "Alternative". I think we're looking at a great time for Alternative. I know that I'm really excited for all of the music coming out over the next few months, primarily because a couple of my favorite bands/artists will be releasing new material, but the alternative music selection alone is pumping me up. For those of you who may have read one or two or all of my music related blog entries, I'm not afraid to critique alternative music. Part of my album review of Night Visions by Imagine Dragons is actually quoted on the Wikipedia page for their single, "Radioactive", and I didn't even put it there myself! Oddly enough. So shout out to whomever deemed it appropriate to do that. Anyway, I'm a fan and critic of alternative and I can safely say that I cannot wait for some of this music.

Alternative's Diversity: The Bigger Names

I'm gonna go over some of the stuff I'm looking forward to and talk about some other releases too, we'll discuss. Let's start with the bigger names and then I'll move on to some lesser known artists that I'm excited about. One of my favorite bands when I was younger and one that still delivers, might I add, just released another album on 3/11. Care to guess who? Why, it's reggae/rock/rap group, 311! 311 are known for their hard hitting, rap tinged 90's tunes and their chill, tropical early to mid 2000's work. Their latest was released on the bands personal holiday, 311 Day, and it's a celebratory album not just for its release date but for the fact that they released it under their own label, expressing their distaste in labels along the way. I say, more power to them, because I dig the new tracks and I think they kind of revived a vibe of theirs that we've seen less and less of since their hay day. Their latest, Stereolithic, revives some old school tendencies while also trying to stay true who the band is now and that's admirable. The band is on point, great grooves, best instrumentation since their album, Evolver probably. Nick Hexum is such a good vocalist too, and he still is, the dude sounds great. I was excited for this release and they met my hype nicely, so I have no complaints. Check it out if you have a taste for Reggae Rock-infused Alternative, I recommend "Sand Dollars", "Make It Rough", and "Tranquility" off their latest. I love these guys no matter what and they'll always be a favorite live band, hope to catch them on the Stereolithic tour if I can.

Two big ones I'm stoked for? Foster The People and Neon Trees, band names that epitomize modern, popular alternative music in this day and age. Fans of Foster The People have been waiting for another album for quite a while and when Foster The People dropped "Coming Of Age", their lead single, some fans were overjoyed...but some were dismayed. Me personally? I loved it more than anything off of their last album. "Coming Of Age" is a fantastically written, raw, 80's tinged alt. rocker that really struck a chord with me. The John Hughes-esk coming of age-themed music video only impacted me that much more. Their second single, "Pseudologia Fantastica" didn't strike the same chord, but it still retained my interest and has kept me excited for their album, Supermodel. From what I've understand, they've used a bit less in the way of electronics, which is nothing less than admirable in my opinion! Not that electronics are bad at all, but the rawer sounds seem to bode very well for them. Definitely a big release to look forward to.

Now...Neon Trees. I'm a fan of theirs, have been since their debut, I think that they're just great. Liked where they were going on their first EP, dug their debut, and loved their sophomore album (which I reviewed ). I didn't expect anything new out of them for a while, but I was pleasantly surprised when I saw their single, "Sleeping With A Friend" on ITunes. I checked it out, loved it, and immediately tried to find the release date for what would be their third album. Before I know it, I find a title and a release date. Pop Psychology drops 4/22 and I can safely say that it'll be my jam for a while. I liked the new single, thought it had a cool and different vibe comparatively-speaking. The video expanded on that, with lots of 80's cheesiness and psychedelia. I loved it and I think the band will do just fine with their latest album. Cheers to Tyler Glenn, Elaine Bradley, Chris Allen, and Branden Campbell of Neon Trees.

Alternative's Diversity: The Lesser Known

Now, I'm gonna put the spotlight on a band that isn't super well known, but they have got some fair publicity through commercials and the like. Introducing The Colourist. The Colourist is a self described math pop/majestic rock band with both a male and female lead vocal. I caught onto these guys and their single, "Little Games" this past summer. Loved the song and was glad to see them drop an EP in August. The four song EP was just a taste of the band, and man, I really vibed with what they were doing. The vocals, the instrumentation, their arrangement in general, the lyrics, I loved it. This band is one to watch for, without a doubt, their full length self-titled album drops this month and I couldn't be more stoked. This band has an energy in their music and it totally clicks with me, they're uplifting and emotive and kind of captivating in a sense. I highly recommend this band and the songs "Little Games", "Fix This", and "We Won't Go Home". Their debut drops 3/25, you know I'll be buying it.

For this last part, I wanna talk about another band that has a decent following but again, isn't super well known. They've done fairly well for themselves, garnering attention through social media sites like Twitter, Instagram and more so from media sharing sites like YouTube and Soundcloud. They've opened for No Doubt, Young The Giant, Paramore, Charli XCX, and The Neighbourhood. The band I speak of is Kitten, or Kitten The Band as they're better known. Kitten The Band is a new wave, synthpop-influenced, alternative rock band. I think that's the best way to describe them. Kitten is fronted by frontwoman, Chloe Chaidez, a powerhouse vocalist who doesn't really sound like anyone on the scene, but has a singing style similar to Hayley Williams fused with Human League-like tendencies. The band has released a couple EP's, but their full length LP drops in May, which is exciting. The band has refined their sound over the past couple years and I personally think they're on the fast track to super stardom. The music industry has taken a toll on the band some and they've had their ups and downs, but that's music baby, they've owned it and have carried on and that's the making of a band with staying power. I really dig this band and I can't think of what else to say other than to present you a track of theirs.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, alternative is looking damned good if I do say so myself. There seems to be a vague trend of 80's-like stylization and inspiration, which is fine by me, I'm a huge fan of the 80's and advocate for 80's revival. Will we see that in pop music? Who knows. I'm hoping some of this alternative crosses over into mainstream radio territory, simply because I'd love for some cool, quality music to hit the airwaves. Foster The People and Neon Trees have crossed over to pop radio a couple times, so here's to hoping. Only time will tell, but until next time, thanks for reading!

When one thinks of video games, music notes, instruments, and scores might not be the first thoughts to pop into ones head, but they play an integral part. Setting up the mood, the atmosphere, essentially telling you how to emotionally navigate and truly perceive the game as you play. The interesting part is that some do it better than others, some games have enormous, grandiose scores whereas others are 8-bit, boop-beep compositions. Being the music fan (freak) that I am, I got to thinking about video game music. Despite the fact that soundtracks for games are somewhat acknowledged and are becoming an even more important facet to said industry, I still feel as though they are somewhat underrated. SO, without any further ado, here is my favorite video game soundtrack!

Super Smash Bros Melee: Original Soundtrack

The Melee OST is an uplifting and diverse arrangement that can hold it's own as an Orchestral Pop and Rock album. As an artist, I love listening to this album because it's so inspiring in a way, it makes me want to pick up my pencil and create new worlds and amazing adventures. Touching on a multitude of genres, such as early hip/hop, funk, classical, new wave, symphonic rock, hair metal, and orchestral pop, the OST covers many musical bases, there's something for everyone to love. Revised theme songs, original tracks inspired by games, and epic soundscapes abound. From the New Wave rock tendencies of the "Brinstar" stage theme to the horn and string arranged stylings of "Pokemon Stadium" and back to the hair metal-esk chords in "Mute City". The music, performed by the New Japan Philharmonic, is in my opinion some of the most top notch, accessible, symphonic music to hit the music industry since Metallicas S&M.

There are so many great soundtracks, but I can't help but put this one above the rest, it is the be all end all for me. With tracks that would fit any gameplay experience, any epic moment in life, or simply any setting that you'd deem appropriate, it's a rare breed. Sure, I could name other great OST's. Chrono Trigger for example. Haunting 8-bit melodies, sensational rock influenced 8-bit pub music, battle medleys, you name it. A solid composition, no doubt. Then there's always Final Fantasy VII, a game that gets praised up and down for it's score. The moody, industrial-esk sounds fueled by pitchy horns, tinny drums, guitar feedback, 8-bit sounding organ, and arpeggiator-like synth sounds set the mood perfectly. It just comes down to accessibility for me, truthfully. Personally, I couldn't just put the FFVII OST on my ipod and listen all the time, it just wouldn't bode well with me.

Other favorite soundtracks of mine? Blue Dragon. Loved the soundtrack and the battle music featuring Ian Gillian was the icing on the cake. Halo has always had interesting compositions for each of its games, Halo 2 specifically had a slew of big name rock artists that contributed to the Halo 2 OST: Volume 1, artists such as Steve Vai, Incubus, Hoobastank, Breaking Benjamin, and Joe Satriani. Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night is often praised for it's music, but I gotta break from the pack and argue that Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia has one of the most underrated OST's ever. Bioshock Infinite certainly deserves a mention as well, a unique and cinematic composition, combined with off the wall hits from many early time periods, as well as hits from primarily the 30's, 60's, and 80's. A tip of the hat to the great folks who worked on the musical aspects of Infinite. Those are certainly some of my favorite, what are yours and what do you think of the ones listed here? Tell me below!

ROOM8. "Transduction" is a crossroads on the electronic highway. An audio film that takes place in a musical past, present, and future. The brain child of Ezra Reich and Nic Johns, "Transduction" features Electric Youth (from the neon noir hit "Drive"), Martha Davis (leader of classic New Wave icons, The Motels), the sax work of Ian Young from M83, guitar work from Giorgio Moroder arranger and guitar player and famed producer, Richie Zito, mixed with Gavin Mackillop (Human League, General Public, Heaven 17) and Mastered at Little Red Book in LA. With artwork by the legendary art collective, The Zonders. Step into the world of ROOM8's "Transduction".

So reads the electronic press kit of the left field project, created with Ezra Reich and Nic Johns at the helm. For those of you who are aware of Ezra Reich or the Ezra Reich band, you know he's a musician and he has been for quite some time. For those of you who don't know who he is, you'll find all of this to be quite random. Ezra Reich is a vocalist and/or keyboardist, recognized by critics for his pop sensibilities and his old school musicianship. Ezra Reich has been praised for his "colorful, masterful, pop music" and his live act has been hailed with such compliments as the "Beatles meet Prince" and that his music "reminds us of the value of melody". I'm familiar with his sophomore album, Milkshake Arcade, and it wholeheartedly backs up these sentiments with a unique brand of orchestral, instrument-heavy pop. Then I discovered ROOM8.

Retro Electronic Integration

I'm a huge fan and advocate of the synthwave movement, a revival of retro, primarily synth based 80's inspired music. Believe it or not, there's quite a niche for these artists on not only sites like soundcloud and bandcamp, but in the music scenes in Europe and even the greater Los Angeles, California area here in North America. I've always had a love for the 80's but it wasn't until the 2011 film, Drive, that my interest was peaked so much by the soundtrack of said film that I decided to familiarize myself with the vast majority of current synthpop fueled electronic artists. The main interest being Electric Youth, an electronic duo who was prominently featured on the Drive soundtrack. One thing lead to another and now I'm well versed in so many of these artists that I'm looking for new ones all the time. A few years later, here I find ROOM8. I found ROOM8 via soundcloud because Electric Youth was following them, then their profile pic caught my eye and I just had to click. What I found was nothing short of inspiring.

A multilateral collaboration of sorts, ROOM8 seemed to be a large scale musical endeavor that was too good to be true, but it wasn't, it was all real. Then I listened to a few of their tunes, I was floored, how could a group in this day and age be so perfectly...80's? The synths, the sax, the vocals, it all worked in such an idealistic way. After reading a bit more into the group, it made sense as to why I enjoyed them so much, Electric Youth was involved (whom I liked to begin with), the saxophonist from M83 was involved (whom I also appreciated), and Ezra Reich and Nic Johns were to thank for it all, that was all I needed to know and their debut album instantly became my current most anticipated release. As it turns out, ROOM8 has had this album underway for quite some time, and I'm disappointed that I'm just now hearing of them because I would've loved to support them from the ground up. Regardless, they have a fan in me now and I cannot wait for their debut, Transduction.

A Taste Of What's In Store

Instead of hearing me blab about how much I like this project of theirs, why don't I give you a couple of my favorite tracks of theirs to listen to? Here is the mystically touching, "Visions Of You", evoking a similar sun drenched, California synthpop akin to what was found in Drive, featuring Electric Youth. The track is a great synth-heavy composition, with angelic lead vocals and bouncy bass grooves.

Here is "Neon & Dice", an M83-esk instrumental but with a less modern, more raw production. Great percussion, winding lead synths, and wonderful saxophone that really sets the tone for the entirety of the song. A perfect song for a jaunt into mid-80's Las Vegas. Wonderful, bright, neon composition.

The Who's Who and What's Next?

ROOM8 is a mix of new and old, a perfect conglomeration of modern retro appeal and vintage stylization, they could be the one true game changer in the synthwave movement, they could turn the electronic world upside down with their unique craft and composition. The new: Electric Youth, certainly a calling card for ROOM8 with their following and unique brand of synthpop. Ian Young, M83's dream pop saxophonist adds a welcome touch of old school instrumentation and entertainment. Ezra Reich and Nic Johns, young but seasoned musicians at the helm of ROOM8, both with a taste for the old school, their pop sensibilities and talents bode well for the project. The old: Martha Davis, new wave princess and crooner for the Motels, nuff said. Giorgio Moroder, legendary producer and synth expert, worked with Daft Punk on their latest. Richie Zito, other legendary producer and session guitarist. Gavin Mackillop, mixer for many great 80's artists. On top of all that, then throw in art by The Zonders, and you have ROOM8. One big mixed bag of old and new, but one thing is shared between them all, they're all great.

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...a perfect conglomeration of modern retro appeal and vintage stylization...

I can't say what's in store for the collective, but I can say that they've captivated me enough to write a lengthy blog about them. They caught my eye, then they caught my ear, and now they've captured me altogether, inspiring me to fully pursue music myself. I've always loved music and the creation of it has always captivated me. It's entertaining, thought provoking, mind altering, and if you're like me, it consumes your life, your very being. It's everything, all consuming. So when ROOM8's Transduction drops, I'll be on top of it, and I can't wait to play along to it with my synthesizer. I can't wait to see where ROOM8 goes and I certainly hope that their debut has quite an impact on the synthwave movement as a whole. I wish them the utmost luck with it and would absolutely love to catch the group live if given the chance. Tell me what you think of ROOM8 below.

Stay up to date on what's going on with ROOM8 and like them via Facebook and check them out on Soundcloud to hear more songs by them. Transduction is anticipating a 2014 release.

Please, by all means, remake Majoras mask, please, please. Huge marketing opportunities here. Not only a singular game, but I'm talking figure lines, accessories, posters and coffee mugs. Manufacture a diorama of the commonly known "Great Bay" map from SSBM. Turtle, moon, and guardians in full. Put Sheik in Majoras Mask, add new storyline on top of the original. Team up Fierce Deity, Oni Link and Oni Sheik. Keychains, coasters, an all new soundtrack featuring the return of everyone who worked on the Super Smash Bros. Melee soundtrack. This is gonna be big, big I tell you!

The easiest album review I've ever written? I think it is. This album is a damn near perfect genre bending masterpiece. Hatred, mystery, sex, fun, soul, feeling, it's got it all. From Rock to Disco to Reggae and back to Pop, Bruno has all bases covered. Mars made a believer out of me, someone who wasn't exactly a "fan" prior. A spellbinding pop musician, with a versatile range, and incredible skill.

Track By Track Analysis

The multi-genre album begins with "Young Girls", a track that is slightly reminiscent of "Grenade" in its instrumentation and atmospheric feel. "Young Girls" is a smooth track, detailing the wild girls he's encountered in his time as a super star. The track has a heartfelt notion about it for some reason, something about the tracks establishes a sense of emotion, a sensitivity. Whirling, fuzzy, synths sporadically rip through the background of the song as Bruno sings about his wild nights and his descent down unsavory paths. The song is a vast and open track with scarce instrumentation, but at the same time, it has an unnerving sense of emotion to it. Bruno Mars' vocal chops are commendable, but no more than his previous hits. A good song, regardless.

The second track, "Locked Out Of Heaven" was a well received homage to The Police, with punk-reggae guitar not heard in popular music since the 80's and dance-worthy synths bounding up and down. The track shows a more explicit side of Bruno that many were yet to see, with the song being about a subject matter that he was yet to tackle. As it would turn out, the whole album is more provocative and explicit than his last effort, and I commend him for it, but we'll get to that later. Though clearly inspired by The Police, no one is able to pull off the classic sound more genuinely than Bruno. A song that caught me off guard when it hit mainstream radio.

This next track? My absolute favorite track and a truly fantastic song. This is where the album started to intrigue me. "Gorilla" is rock anthem akin to so many by Def Leppard, Prince, and Motley Crue. "Gorilla" shows that rock is far from dead in popular music, with early 80's arena rock tendencies fused with power pop hooks, this song can't lose. Also one of the most explicit and provocative songs on the album, many have compared the song to the unabashedly sex-inspired works by Prince, among others. Mars' voice is so great in this, he hits multiple high notes not heard anywhere else in his body of work, and proves that he can rock. A fantastic song and personal favorite.

"Treasure" is why I finally bought the album, after hearing it a few times on the radio. The neo-disco sound of "Treasure" is truly refreshing to hear in this era of auto-tuned, bubblegum pop. Thankfully we have artists like Bruno to go outside of the box. Bruno channels late disco hits with his polished, danceable, retro super hit. With disco guitars, powerful bass, and a classic chorus that would fit right into that bygone era. A cool song.

The fifth track, "Moonshine" is another interesting track. "Moonshine rides on the coat tails of "Treasure" in its retro nature, but "Moonshine" diverges because it's a "Quiet Storm" song, a long forgotten genre used to describe soft rock infused disco that was played at night in the late 70's and early 80's. "Moonshine" uses a similar sound effect found in Michael Jacksons "Thriller", it's noticeable upon your first listen. "Moonshine" is an eerie and mysterious track that uses great disco-esk guitar and a layer of synths to convey a feeling of atmospheric vastness, Bruno seemingly talks to someone while inferring that they aren't of this world, and that they and their love transcend this Earth. Many find the track reminiscent of Michael Jacksons early works. An inspired track and personal favorite of mine.

The sixth track is a song I didn't want to like, but it's undeniable piano-fueled soul is pretty irresistible. I actually related to the song when it first came out as a single on the radio. I inadvertently like "When I Was Your Man", we all have that song that we know we shouldn't like but do, here's mine. "When I Was Your Man" is a ballad with solely Bruno singing and playing the piano, no other instrumentation. The song illustrates a tale of loss, regret, and eventually acceptance. A heartfelt track.

The next track, "Natalie" could be the spiritual sequel to "Grenade" in it's subject matter. Perhaps about the same girl? A similar one? Who knows. With soft guitar in there and almost exactly the same instrumentation that "Grenade" had, "Natalie" is an explicit, more vengeful return to form. "Natalie" speaks of a woman who not only leaves him, but runs away with all his money, and even frames him, after which he speaks of possibly killing her once he gets out. A song with power, vengeful spirit, and spite. A good song.

Just when you think Bruno has left his tropical roots behind him in favor of a multitude of sounds, his reggae soul makes a cameo in the form of "Show Me". "Show Me" is a 311-meets-Shaggy, kind of reggae tune. The track has great, Sublime-worthy guitar, some soft horns, and even a little dancehall-vibe thanks to producer, Diplo. The track has Bob Marley flare with Bruno's pop sensibilities written all over it. The track is smooth, tropical, and a must listen summer tune. The track reminds me of a warm night in Florida I had years ago, but that's a different story. As a reggae fan, I thought this was a great change in material. Another favorite and another great track.

Our ninth track is a funky, electronic, synth jam never before heard from Bruno Mars. The track's chorus has a hard hitting synthetic bass line that's completely worthy of the dance floor. The beat is reminiscent of Kanye Wests "Stronger" and the subject matter is in the same area as "Natalie", gold digging bitches. The track is a busy and energetic electronic anthem that even I find irresistibly catchy. A solid track.

The tenth and final track is "If I Knew", a heartfelt 50's-inspired doo-wop worthy of Frankie Valli and the like. With long forgotten guitar stylings and soft, romantic inspiration, the song caps off the album elegantly...but unfortunately leaves me wanting more, another track, something different. A decent song nonetheless.

Album Overview And The Verdict

Bruno shows us that he's much more than a pop/reggae artist and that he's capable of multiple genres, as well writing about much less kid-friendly subjects. Bruno has shown many new sides of himself as an artist on this album, he's shown us that he's just a human, and for that this album slays his last album entirely. With scads of genres, provocative writing, and not a bad song on the album, Bruno done good, he's done real good. There's plenty of inspiration to be found on the album, but the one thing that sets all that apart is that Bruno Mars is able to sound genuine, like it's his sound. Sure a riff sounds like The Police and sure "Moonshine" might be reminiscent of Michael Jackson, but Bruno isn't just copycatting, he makes it sound real and that's how you know he's a genuine performer. My opinion? Bruno is still young, with a hell of a lot of potential, he can and will go even further as a musician than he already has. Bruno Mars is the golden child and I think he's here to save music.

PushXShove is an artist, occasional blogger, and music aficionado, he also likes to surf. You'll probably wind up talking about music if you talk to him. You can find his unprofessional body of work here: //yamcha-wolf.deviantart.com/